寝ても覚めても嵐

To the other side of the wind!

♥ Thank you, Yoshikazu-chan:

I became an Arashi fan after passing the 50-year-old mark, but they have saved me time and time again. Whenever I felt troubled or depressed about work and relationships and such, their presence gave me strength and courage. I am still quite a novice as a fan, so in no way can I analyze nor critique them. That is why my newly-finished book "Why I came to like Arashi" is not one of analysis or research, but one that tells the story of how I came to like Arashi. Whenever I felt tired from dealing with people, I only have to look at Captain, Nino, MatsuJun, Aiba-chan, and Sho-kun laughing on my TV screen, and I am comforted. Whenever I watch their high-quality performance on their concert DVDs, I also feel like, "I've gotta work hard too!" Unfavorable winds always blow in everyone's lives, not just in mine. In times such as these, Arashi said these to us: instead of worrying amidst the ill wind, let's imagine things going well. I have seriously been saved by these words. These past few years Arashi has been moving only forward at full throttle, and the headwinds will probably get stronger by just as much. During just such times, I want to be the wind at their backs. Arashi! Cross the mountain that is looming right in front of you......to the other side of the wind, to the other side of the wind......!

× The address of Shuukan Gendai, just in case you have some live strains of Anthrax or other biological warfare sitting in your fridge and feel like sending it to them. Or if you're a hacker extraordinaire and would rather send them a virtual virus: [email protected] [email protected] (Just kidding. Sort of.)

☆ This is a critique of the actual article by a fan (and cancer survivor). She wrote that she wants overseas fans to know as well since Arashi has their Asian tour coming up:

The problem is the marijuana thing. But, if you really think about it, if anything Ohno-kun is the victim here.

This involves the law, and its effect seems to be really profound, so I want fans to clearly understand the situation he was in. While saying that, I am only analyzing from bits and pieces of information, but from those I tried to analyze as best as I could, and as much as possible I want to support him objectively and not just emotionally.

During this time, they say Ohno-kun was drunk. The article is written based on the testimonies of "two women". They say that when he was dead drunk, someone said "Look what I've got" and brought out the marijuana and they took their turns smoking it, him included.

Point 1: It is in the women's testimonies that the dead drunk Ohno-kun did not seem to know that the thing that that someone brought out was marijuana, and they think he learned only after getting high. Yet these two women knew that it was marijuana before he smoked it. While knowing beforehand, isn't it a crime to make someone who is dead drunk and clueless smoke it? It surely must have had profound negative effects on his body, and from this one can say that Ohno-kun is a victim of bodily injury.

Point 2: This magazine article is written based on the testimonies of these two women. Why did the editors of this magazine, after hearing their story that marijuana was smoked, not report to the police, but instead write an article which questions Johnny's and Ohno-kun who smoked unknowingly? I mean, this magazine knows the women who knowingly smoked marijuana, so they should have notified the police immediately. Shouldn't they be charged for withholding information?

Point 3: The biggest offender is probably the "someone" who brought the marijuana. These two women know that person, so yet again, why did this magazine not report that to the police?

Point 4: There is only the women's testimonies to back up the story that marijuana was smoked. It seems that no other evidence exists.

Point 5: I don't know legally how much responsibility is placed on actions taken while drunk, but being drunk can make one unable to make clear judgments, so in such circumstances, no matter how you look at it, it was the people around him who knew it was marijuana and made him smoke it who are the ones at fault.

It is possible that Shuukan Gendai holds some other information, but whatever comes out, let's think about it calmly. Even if Ohno-kun himself thinks he's alright, I think he'll probably be sad if the fans are sad.

Edit: I posted this not because I believe Leader smoked that weed (it's innocent until proven guilty for me; it's hasty to believe the allegations of nameless, faceless "Girl A" and "Girl B"), but because orgelpyon-san (thank you very much!) did a good job of pointing out the loopholes in the story. They say Shuukan Gendai still has more pics, including possibly the money shot. However, I've been reading up on the Cannabis Control Law ever since the gravity of the whole marijuana involvement sank, and correct me if I'm wrong, but even if the story turns out to be true, it's highly unlikely that Leader will go to jail:

大○に使用罪はありません
http://asayake.jp/modules/report/index.php?page=print&storyid=719
http://asayake.jp/modules/report/index.php?page=print&storyid=758

The Cannabis Control Law states: "No person other than a cannabis handler shall possess, cultivate, receive, or transfer cannabis, or use cannabis for scientific research." This law does not cover usage. That is, unless one is caught with the drugs in his/her possession, or the plants growing in his/her property, he/she cannot be charged with a crime. A person could be arrested for suspicion of possession/cultivation, but the women's testimonies, if to be believed, clearly state that the pot was not Leader's. It would be unreasonable to nab someone who is not a habitual user for suspicion (not to mention for something that happened years ago).

I still can't help but worry though...someone finally dared to mention it on TV for the first time. Johnny's shroud of silence is keeping everyone on tenterhooks. The antis are unfortunately still at it. Monday is supposed to be fun ZERO/Shukudai-kun day dang it, not dread-the-new-issue-of-Shuukan-Gendai day. Forget about joking, someone send them Anthrax already, if only to restore my peace of mind (kidding again)

● Anyone here a lawyer or law student? Here's a link to an English version of Japan's Cannabis Control Law (all the legal jargon is making my head spin). To be honest I didn't think it was going to be a big deal at first...little did I know that the Japanese law has a very strict and unforgiving attitude towards pot (it is only now that I remember what happened to Paul McCartney). Also, please take whatever rumors you read with a grain of salt...Leader nor the other members did not say anything about it during the recent Music Lovers taping. And "news" from Tokyo Sports and Osaka Sports about Johnny's waging war on Kodansha (which I think is a really bad idea) etc. etc.: these papers are notorious for their lack of credibility.

p.s. Just thought of a way for fans in Japan to appease their sponsors for the next few weeks --- increase their sales:
- switch to au (and say it's because of that guy who sings "puru puru puru puru")
- eat nothing but Tongari Corn and Nino's noodle thingy
- drink nothing but Pepsi Nex and Shava Dava
- move to a new apartment using Able
- buy a Toyota

2008.07.19-08.03 TV PIA

Tonight Leader is going head-to-head with My Neighbor Totoro, which always gets high ratings (> 20%) every time it is shown on TV...Leader, I will have newfound respect for you if your ratings manage not to drop below 10% against this proven ratings-crusher (good luck~).

[2008.07.19-08.03] TV PIA

TV PIA, 19 July - 3 August 2008
scan: supia

7.25 With the death of his best friend, Naoto (Ikuta Toma) finally realizes what the murderer is accusing him of, and that is Naoto's dark memory during his junior high days......Meanwhile, a suspicious man in the form of Ikehata (Musaka Naomasa), a reporter from a weekly magazine, makes contact with Ryo (Ohno Satoshi). (4)

8.1 Another tarot card is delivered to Naoto. Afraid that the next murder will take place, he tails the prime suspect, Yamano (Shimizu Yutaka). It leads to nothing, but it occurs to him that the name of a particular person comes to mind from the sender of the cards "Amano Makoto". (5)

Arashi is the tie that binds

TTT_TTT This is written by a single mother whose 6th-grade daughter suffered from acute lymphoblastic leukemia in toddlerhood and presently has adenomatous goiter:

The reason why we, mother and daughter, became Arashi fans

Around April of last year, my daughter started to say that Aiba-kun, who appears on a certain animal show, is "cool".
I was anti-Arashi, and so continued to ignore such declarations by my daughter.
And since she never asked me, not even once, to buy her this or that magazine or CD, I figured her interest was merely a passing one.

However, when she saw this particular magazine on display at a store at around October, for the first time ever she wanted so badly to own an idol magazine.
Yes.
By that time, she has completely become an Arashi fan.
Not only that, her favorite is not Aiba-kun, but Sakurai Sho-kun.

But, as expected of someone who was anti-Arashi, I didn't take too kindly to this development.
Still, I did rent their CDs from the rental shop, but only their albums.

So, the reason why even I myself became an Arashi fan...
At that time, my daughter did not have many friends at school, and it seems that she suffered from some light bullying.
It might also be because of her condition, but when the two of us had a huge argument once,

My daughter appealed to me in tears:

"I've tried killing myself."

"But, I've stopped after becoming an Arashi fan."

She said something like that to me.
To be quite honest, I was surprised.
Outwardly she showed no such signs, and was very bright and cheerful.
Certainly she didn't hang out with friends after school and such, but since I thought our relationship as mother and daughter was going well,

I was honestly shocked by her teary-eyed appeal:

"Mama, you don't try to understand me."

It was from then on.
That I seriously began to consider just what kind of group this Arashi is, that my daughter loves so much.
I carefully read the Arashi books I bought her. I read their articles in magazines.
And so "anti" changed to "understanding", and further transformed to "fan".

In a sense, this was quite a stunning turn of events for me.
I mean, to be "anti" is to find everything about something wrong and disagreeable.
But when one tries to "understand" it and becomes a "fan", everything turns to happiness, and one can only look upon it in a positive way.
I think the biggest surprise was my own personal change.

And now we, mother and daughter, are fans of Sakurai Sho-kun, and we've been able to collect all of their albums and several of their singles.
We constantly listen to Arashi songs, whether in the house or in the car.
Not only that, we've also bought several of their concert DVDs, and watch them while going "kya~ kya~" together.
We also went for the first time to their concert the other day, and have come to spend such a lovely and wonderful time together. ♥♥

TTT_TTT I feel like giving everyone a group hug *virtually group hugs everyone*

Words of love and wisdom from Sakurai Sho

◦ Tada Shinya wrote the lyrics to Kaze no mukou e! Was happily surprised when I saw his name on the credits. Congratulations Tada-san on your first A-side (and such a high-profile one at that!).

You know...I was so cranky during my junior days...Well, there's the fact that I was young and immature, but I was a junior from 2nd year in middle school to 3rd year in high school, so it was kind of like wasting my so-called youth, wasn't it? There were too many things I couldn't do, like hang out with friends after school at the shopping district --- my friends could do it, but I couldn't. When I leave home in the morning, there'd be fans waiting outside the house, and when I go home from work or school, they'd follow me all the way...I was so cranky about a lot of different stuff. But after I became part of Arashi, I completely stopped minding at all. Instead of thinking, "There are too many things other people can do that I can't," I thought the opposite: "I'm doing a lot of things that other people can't do." I began to recognize the positive side of it. The fans say, "Arashi songs cheer me up," and I think, "I've gotta work hard." Yes, it makes me very happy. It makes me realize that I'd never get to experience any of these if I didn't have this job. That's why I thought, it's no big deal, I should just enjoy the ride despite not being able to do some things. I didn't mind that much anymore. I think that's what changed after I became part of Arashi --- I didn't mind anymore the...restrictions of being famous. As much as possible, I want to keep it real. I'm glad these five particular guys make up Arashi.

You know...I'm what you call a lion at home but a mouse abroad. All along I've thought of myself as just shy (laughs). But about half a year ago I realized, "Am I not really just tough on my own turf?" (laughs). I'm not really shy; I have no problem talking with people I've just met. But, there are only a handful of people whom I can completely open up myself to. That's why, my true colors come out when I'm hanging out with friends I've known for a long time. I can speak my mind with the members too. During our junior days, Matsumoto was like a younger brother to me, but lately the five of us have come to be on an equal footing, haven't we? I feel like I'm saying this all the time, but lately, it's really good with us. Even in the movie, the most fun scenes are the ones when the five of us are together...Yeah, I'm glad I'm with members which can make me feel that way. I mean, setting aside whether we get along or not, or that maybe, just maybe, there's some other group out there where I can feel at home, the fact is that we are that kind of group, and I'm glad. [Arashi 04150515]

Thank you powers that be for reprinting it ♥ Took me forever to tear all 200+ pages...nearly tore the first few ones since I didn't read the instructions at the back ^^; Be careful when you get yours...

 
--- Do you want to further explore newscasting?
Of course, as long as they let me. It's extremely interesting, and there are many times when I think that I'm glad they're letting me do it, but I'm not thinking of specializing only in newscasting. I'm an idol (laughs). I'm in Arashi.

--- If I may venture to ask, is Arashi big right now? (laughs)
A lot of people tell us that, but I really don't know (laughs). I don't know whether we're getting big or not, but I do think it's getting interesting, because I really feel that the other members are doing work that could only be done by them and not anyone else. There are more ways for us to express ourselves, be it Ohno's exhibition, or my being a newscaster......I think the people around us are making it more interesting for us, because things couldn't be done just by ourselves. I think it's only just recently that the general public has come to see that too.

--- Do you feel it in your skin?
Hmmm......well, I don't not feel it, to be honest.

--- When do you feel it?
............I guess when the five of us are together. We'll be talking, and I'd just suddenly look at it from an objective point of view......Matsumoto Jun, Ninomiya Kazunari, Aiba Masaki, Ohno Satoshi --- wow they're in the same room.

--- Like, why are you in the same room, when each of you has gotten big (laughs).
We're still ridiculously goofy as usual though (laughs). But I think it's a good thing.

--- You yourselves have remained the same, yet everything around you is rapidly changing, isn't it. How do you deal with those changes?
The more things around us change, the more important it is for us not to change. If we change, then there would be no point in being us. It's not as if the public just all at once turned to look our way. I think it's more like people glanced in our direction from time to time, and gradually began to see us clearly. I guess it's important not to stray in order not to let go of that attention.

--- During 24HOUR TELEVISION in 2004, Aiba-san read a letter to the members saying, "Let's definitely make our dream of becoming the top come true". What exactly do you think this "top" means?
Hmmm............I wonder. But I think it's not about the numbers. It's not about drawing the most number of people to concerts, or selling the most CDs; I think it's about being loved. It's probably about wanting to be loved by everyone (laughs). It's like, yes, we want to reach the top of the mountain, but when we get there, our fans will also be there together with us. We want to be a group which can make one proud to say that they are Arashi fans.

--- Do you yourself feel proud that you are part of Arashi?
Yes, I'm proud. That has never changed. No, it's not something that I finally thought of just now, and whether everyone knows it or not, indeed, Arashi is precious. [cut, July 2008] ♥

Arashi is the ideal team management

Watched this HanaDan bansen where they showed vintage pics and footage of Kaga Mariko (Domyoji's mom), and O.O Had no idea she used to be such a babe (like a cross between Audrey Hepburn and Brigitte Bardot *_*):

Kaga Mariko

☆ Came across this interesting read while searching for something else (somehow this happens a lot...). It's written by a guy who is aspiring to put up his own company in five years. For someone who's not a core fan and probably hasn't read/watched most of their interviews, he sure has got Arashi down pat:

I've been thinking a lot about Arashi of Johnny's lately.
In a good way of course.

I've tried to think about why:

* First...their individual strengths are amazing for such young people.
Idols were usually folks who are older than or the same age as me ---
there was Tanokin trio and Hikaru GENJI in the past,
and now there's SMAP, TOKIO, kinki etc.

I think Arashi is the first male idol group
where all the members are younger than me.

I watch each of these younger guys,
with their strong personalities, doing their thing,
and I go, "Wow~".

Receiving high praise in Hollywood, being a great singer,
being highly-educated and serving as a news commentator,
having the lead role in a drama series, excelling in variety shows.
I think this is the first group since SMAP
where each member is getting to show off his individual talents.

Second...they're also exhibiting their strength as a group!
While having impressive abilities as individuals, they're also showing amazing power as a group.
Arashi no shukudai-kun on NTV is an extremely funny late-night show.
And their songs are really good, especially lately.
They have a lot of great songs, and not ones simply about love or romance or whatnot.
And in my opinion, their singing ability is the best compared with the other groups.

Conclusion:
I am probably greatly impressed by the fact that:

For guys who are younger than me, each of them are fully showcasing their personal talents,
and as a group they unleash a power that amplifies those individual strengths many times over.

The members of other young groups have impressive abilities too,
but Arashi is different in how they use theirs.

I think Arashi makes full use of their individual talents for the benefit of the group.
In other words, I get the strong feeling that all of them consciously bear in mind
that each of their strengths ultimately serve to empower their group to the fullest.
I think each of them clearly understands his role in the group,
and in their given positions show off their individual abilities,
such that 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 is not 5, but becomes 10, even 20.

On the other hand, there is a strong feeling of "Me! Me!"
among the other young groups.
The members' respective roles in the group are unclear,
and it truly feels like they're not getting to achieve their true potential.

Arashi represents the ideal team management for me.

2008.07.05-18 TV station

MORE SPOILERS:

[2008.07.05-18] TV station

TV station, 5-18 July 2008
scan: supia (thanks Mindy)

As if mocking Naoto, a second murder takes place

(Episode 2) Not long after the death of Kumada (Morishita Tetsuo) at the hands of Hayashi Kunio (Kitaro), another tarot card is sent to Naoto from "Amano Makoto". Thinking that someone close to him who has incurred the wrath of others is being targeted by Amano, Naoto infers that the next target might be his father, Eisaku, and so he warns his father to be vigilant. However, Eisaku pays no mind to Naoto's advice...

(Episode 3) A friend of Naoto's is once again killed through Amano Makoto's perfect scheme. The inadvertent killer, Tae (Okunuki Kaoru), is again instigated by Amano and commits a crime. Learning that cards were also sent to Tae from Amano, Naoto is certain of Amano's plan.

Learning that Shiori is also a lonely person with no family like him, Ryo begins to like her more and more

2008.07.05-20 TV PIA

My first contribution to Maou tribe~ (thanks for making the group Koon). SPOILERS AHEAD:

[2008.07.05-20] TV PIA

[2008.07.05-20] TV PIA

[2008.07.05-20] TV PIA

TV PIA, 5-20 July 2008
scans: supia (thanks Mindy)

7.11 For some reason, Naoto (Ikuta Toma)'s father Eisaku (Ishizaka Koji) takes a liking to Ryo (Ohno Satoshi) and approaches him about being his company's legal adviser. Naoto doesn't think too well of Ryo, but thanks to him Soda (Oshinari Shugo) gets out of jail quickly... (2)

7.18 Ryo and Shiori (Kobayashi Ryoko) runs into a lost little girl, Sora (Oono Momoka). They take her back to her home, but her mother Tae (Okunuki Kaoru) is not around. At that time, Tae is marching into the office of Ishimoto (Waki Tomohiro), because she's convinced that he has kidnapped Sora in order to intimidate her. (3)

. . . . .

Just when they thought Kumada's murder has been solved, a new murder arises

Hayashi (Kitaro) is arrested for the murder of Kumada (Morishita Tetsuo). Unsatisfied, Naoto (Ikuta Toma) insists that someone else is pulling the strings, but the station decides to scale down the investigation team. Amidst all this, a new tarot card is sent to Naoto. Exactly like with Kumada, Naoto concludes that the next target is most likely a person who has incurred the hatred of someone. (Episode 2)

Ryo (Ohno Satoshi) attends Kumada's funeral service.  Sensing some unfathomable power in him, Eisaku (Ishizaka Koji) thinks to make Ryo his legal adviser

. . . . .

Naoto's friend dies of an illness
He insists that it's an announced murder, but...

Ryo (Ohno Satoshi) and Shiori (Kobayashi Ryoko) runs into a lost little girl, Sora (Oono Momoka) in front of the church. It seems she was brought to the park by a stranger. Asking Sora where her house is, they decide to bring her back to her home. Not long after, they deliver her to the completely exhausted Tae (Okunuki Kaoru). However, Tae begins to tremble when she sees the teddy bear Sora is holding. (Episode 3)

On the other hand, the doctor diagnoses the death of Naoto (Ikuta Toma)'s friend as death from an illness. However, judging from the fact that the crime's modus operandi is exactly the same as before, Naoto insists that it's an announced murder